Monitoring device for a vacuum-insulated system

Abstract

A monitoring device ( 118 ) for monitoring the leak-tightness of a vacuum-insulated system has a corrugated bellows ( 108 ) which is connected in terms of flow to an evacuated space ( 104 ) of the vacuum-insulated system in such a way that, in the event of an increase in pressure in the evacuated space, the length of the corrugated bellows ( 108 ) is adjusted beyond a threshold value. A position detector ( 113 ) connected to an energy store ( 115 ) responds to the change in length of the corrugated bellows and outputs a signal. The position detector outputs a signal to a display device ( 116 ), which provides an indication if a leak in the vacuum-insulated system occurs.

1 . Monitoring device for monitoring the leak-tightness of a vacuum-insulated system comprising:
 a corrugated bellows which is connected in terms of flow to an evacuated space of the vacuum-insulated system in such a way that, in the event of an increase in pressure in the evacuated space, the length of the corrugated bellows is adjusted beyond a threshold value,   whereupon a position detector connected to an energy store responds and outputs a signal.   
     
     
         2 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is arranged on a cover which is able to be mounted onto a flange of the vacuum-insulated system. 
     
     
         3 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position detector is connected to a display device, which receives the signal of the position detector and indicates a leak in the vacuum-insulated system. 
     
     
         4 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position detector is connected to a safeguarding device, which receives the signal of the position detector and initiates a measure for safeguarding the vacuum-insulated system. 
     
     
         5 . Monitoring device according to  claim 4 , wherein the position detector outputs the signal to the display device if the increase in pressure exceeds a first threshold value, and in that the position detector outputs a further signal to the safeguarding device if the increase in pressure exceeds a second threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . Tubular coupling having a monitoring device according to  claim 1 , which is arranged in an outer wall of the tubular coupling. 
     
     
         7 . Superconductive cable system having a monitoring device and a tubular coupling according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         8 . Method for retrofitting a vacuum-insulated system with a monitoring device for monitoring the leak-tightness of the vacuum-insulated system, wherein the method comprises
 replacing a blind cover on the vacuum-insulated system by a cover on which the monitoring device is installed   or   dismounting an auxiliary unit of the vacuum-insulated system;   mounting a tubular coupling according to  claim 6 ; and   mounting the previously dismounted auxiliary unit.